Treatment for Breast Cancer Doesn’t Mean Having to Live With Arm Swelling or Limited Motion

Lymphedema can be managed successfully.

If you’ve been treated for breast cancer or are undergoing treatment, chances are you’ve heard of a troublesome condition called lymphedema. A persistent swelling of the arm on the affected side, lymphedema can significantly affect your quality of life, if it goes untreated. The good news is many of the debilitating effects of this condition can be prevented or reduced if it is treated early. Whether you’ve recently developed lymphedema, or have been living with it for years, the Breast Program at Specialty Rehabilitation Inc. can help.

We treat more than lymphedema. If you’ve had breast surgery and/or axillary dissection or radiation therapy, you may benefit from the Breast Program.

Maybe the tightness caused by post-surgical scarring keeps you from performing daily tasks. You may have concerns about a frozen shoulder or numbness in your arm. It could be you need to restore upper arm strength and range of motion after reconstructive surgery. Perhaps due to the early stages of lymphedema, your jewelry feels tight, arm feels heavy or skin feels thick. For these and other conditions resulting from breast cancer treatment, you’ll find superb care at Specialty Rehabilitation.

A combination of therapies helps to restore function.

Our breast cancer specialty services include a treatment program tailored to each client’s individual needs. We take into consideration the severity of her condition as well as her personal activity level.

For women post-mastectomy/axillary dissection/reconstructive surgery 

We provide scar management training and instruction on techniques to reduce the risk of lymphedema. Treatment may include:

• Therapist-assisted shoulder stretches.
• Massage.
• Gentle progressive stretches and exercises to restore movement and strength.

For women with lymphedema, 

Our treatment may include:

• Education. 

We’ll teach you about skin care and limb health to keep swelling from increasing and reduce the risk of infection.

• Lymph drainage massage.

A trained therapist will perform lymph drainage massage and teach lymph drainage massage to the client and/or family for home maintenance.

• Individualized bandaging techniques to help reduce swelling.

• Exercise to promote lymph drainage, including

Aerobic, range-of-motion, and gentle resistive exercises
Gentle conditioning and stretching to improve strength and help to restore full function.

• We can even help you combat the fatigue of chemotherapy by guiding you safely through an exercise program during treatment.